NEWPORT — The Memphremagog Watershed Association (MWA) has distributed more than $175,000 in state grants to protect Northeast Kingdom lakes from invasive species in 2024, supporting eleven projects across nine lake associations and municipalities.
The funding, provided through the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-in-Aid program, supports greeter programs, invasive species management, and public education efforts at lakes throughout the region.
MWA, now in its fifth year as regional administrator, oversees programs at Great and Little Averill Lakes, Salem Lake, Seymour Lake, Shadow Lake, Lake Memphremagog, Willoughby Lake, Maidstone Lake, Island Pond, and Echo and Crystal Lakes.
Active management projects at Salem Lake, Willoughby Lake, and Lake Memphremagog focus on harvesting and removing invasive species to improve boating access and protect native ecosystems.
Greeter stations provide boat inspections and washing facilities during recreational seasons, promoting the “clean, drain, and dry” protocol for all vessels and equipment.
